MacDirectory magazine is the premiere creative lifestyle magazine for Apple enthusiasts featuring interviews, in-depth tech reviews, Apple news, insights, latest Apple patents, apps, market analysis, entertainment and more.
Issue link: https://digital.macdirectory.com/i/1384448
30 frames per second. The camera also supports a couple of other capture modes at 1080p, though for most uses, even if you’re publishing at 1080, you’ll want to record using the 4K setting. AVerMedia is using an 8-megapixel Sony Exmor R 4K CMOS sensor for the video capture and requires USB 3.0. It also sports a 94-degree field of view which allows the camera to capture a wide background and multiple people on screen, all without any distortion of fish-eye effects. Maybe controversially, the Live Streamer 4K CAM 513 Webcam has a fixed focal length. This means there is no depth of field, but it also means there are no auto-focus issues, as pretty much everything is in focus all the time. This wouldn’t necessarily be what you would want to record your next art house film, but again, this camera is designed with streamers in mind, and for streaming situations, a fixed focus is more reliable and less problematic. The end result of all this hardware is a damn fine video that you’ll notice is easily head and shoulders above most mainstream webcams available today. Paired with the hardware is AVerMedia’s CamEngine 3.0 software. And while some plug’n’play accessories never even need the software, you are going to want to take advantage of the advanced settings to get the most out of this camera. In addition to the camera settings for brightness, sharpness, contrast, gain, etc, CamEngine 3.0 also unlocks facial smoothness filters, skin tone detection, AI tracking, and the ability to save your configured camera angles and zoom settings which can then be mapped to hotkeys. There is a lot of potential in the CamEngine 3.0 software, so be prepared to dig in! To get the perfect angle, the Live Streamer 4K CAM 513 Webcam features a full 360-degree swivel and a generous tilt. It can sit atop a monitor with its universal monitor clamp, or be mounted on a tripod via the ¼” threaded mount. And while there is a built-in microphone on board, if you are investing in this webcam, you are probably going to want a standalone audio solution. It is important to note that USB 3.0 is required, and the webcam is explicitly not compatible with USB 2.0 (4K video requires a lot of data transfer!). One last thing to mention is the built-in privacy screen. A physical screen can be easily rotated over the lens to block the camera while not in use. Long ago this seemed like a gimmick, but after the amount of time I’ve spent in front of a webcam over the last year and a half, this is a feature that I look for. The peace of mind in ensuring your own privacy goes a long way! If you spend hours editing video for your next upload, or are serious about your online following, the Live Streamer 4K CAM 513 from AVerMedia is worth a look. It has all the features that streamers have been asking for at a price point that is still cheaper than mounting a larger camera and an optical lens at your desk. With the camera’s 4k 30fps capture and a little bit of tweaking, the boost to your production values are sure to be noticed. For more information, visit: www.avermedia.com/us/product-detail/PW513